SAFE Act Reaches 50 Cosponsors in the U.S. House!

The Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (S. 2612/H.R. 1171) has officially reached 50 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, marking an exciting milestone for the bipartisan legislation that aims to expand access to falls prevention services for our nation’s Medicare population.

The bill’s momentum is a positive development as accidental falls in the US are on the rise, with falls-related injury and death rates climbing dramatically over the last two decades, especially among adults 65 and older. This presents an urgent need for our lawmakers to take Congressional action to protect older Americans by passing the SAFE Act, which would offer Medicare beneficiaries access to a no-cost fall risk assessment from a falls expert—a physical or occupational therapist—as part of their annual wellness visit.

This commonsense legislation would expand access to essential preventive services enabling more older Americans to live safely and independently as they age. Physical therapy as falls prevention tool can also help reduce dependence on pain medications like opioids among older adults, increasing access to this non-addictive pain management solution.

“When it comes to falls, prevention is key. Being proactive about falls prevention through widespread access to physical therapy services can not only keep our aging population out of the hospital, but it can also save their lives,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “APTQI is pleased to see growing support for the SAFE Act!”

Cosponsors of the legislation hail from both parties and across the country. To see the current list, CLICK HERE.

To help secure 50 more cosponsors for the SAFE Act by urging your lawmaker to support this bill, CLICK HERE!